School of Monsters: Wheels and springs and moving things by Sally Rippin. Illus. by Chris Kennett

Aiming to teach readers about all the different types of vehicles and how they can be used for jobs, this book uses lots of humour, quests and clever text to involve a range of readers. They will leave the book knowing what type of vehicles and machines can be used in a construction job, or those used by emergency workers, or how machines are used on the sea or in space exploration.

The playful text questions the reader, increasing their interest and involvement. Turning the page offers the solution to the question asked, telling the reader a bit about what the job entails, and the range of vehicles used for that job. Amongst the text and detailed illustrations can be found lots of little tasks, the answer for which can be found a the end of the book. A snakes and ladders game can be found at the end as well.

Each set of four pages talks about one of the parents or aunts or uncles and what they do. The first double page offers a text that can be read forwards or backwards, and poses the question about what that person does after giving a few clues. Turning the page, the answer is revealed in an image of the neighbourhood with that job being undertaken. The colourful detail on each page will entice young readers to look closely at what is shown. And of course, the families are not normal people, but monsters, adding another level of humour to this funny book.

Themes: Monsters, Vehicles, Trucks, Cars, Machines, Humour.

Fran Knight